Biology 13: Natural History of California

Natural History of California
Biology 013- 75178
Fall 2024

 

 
Welcome to Natural History of California! As your instructor this semester, I am here to guide you through the wonderful world of California biodiversity. I am committed to helping you learn and succeed in this adventure and hopefully develop your sense of wonder and appreciation of our natural landscape. If you need help please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. You may contact me through the following:
 
Contact Information:
Instructor: Leticia Gallardo        Office: SM 55H              Phone: 408-741-2416
Office Hours:  MW 3:40-4:55pm (Zoom); T 1:00-2:00pm (Zoom); by appointment    
e-mail: [email protected]
Instructor Webpage: http://instruct.westvalley.edu/gallardo
            
Course Information:    
Biol 013- Natural History of California 3 units
Lecture T 2:05-4:10 pm Synchronous on Zoom
Lab  TH 2:05-5:15 pm In person SM 56                                                                 
Prerequisites: There are no academic prerequisites for this course. 
 
Required Textbooks:
The California Naturalist Handbook. 2013. Nevers, G, D.S. Edelman, A. Merenlender. University of California Press. Berkeley, California. ISBN: 978-0-520-27480-8
Secrets of the Oak Woodland. 2014. Marianchild, Kate. Heyday Publishing, Berkeley, California. ISBN: 978-59714-262-5
The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees. 2021. Tallamy, D.W. Workman Publishing Co. Inc and Blackstone Publishing. ISBN: 978-8164326-044-0
 
Recommended:
A Natural History of California. 2017. Schoenherr, Allan A. University of California Press. Berkeley, California. ISBN 978-0-520-06922-0
Binoculars & Hand lens
 
General Course Description
Biol 013- Natural History of California is a 2-unit lecture and 1-unit lab course accepted by both UC (area 5B) & Cal State University Systems (area B2).  This course for non-majors explores the ecology of California plant and animal communities. The course includes class discussion followed by labs and field trip(s) to selected regions of California. 
 
Student Learning Outcome: 
Student will be able to evaluate and hypothesize on the abiotic conditions influencing community ecology.
Identify dominant plant species in various California biotic communities.
 
Course Expectations:
This biology course meets for 5 hours per week, 2 hours scheduled of lecture & 3 hours scheduled of lab. In addition to the scheduled class meetings, plan on spending additional time on homework and assignments. To get the most out of this class you should expect to devote study time outside of class. The amount of time you spend in and outside of class will, in a large part, determine how well you do in the course. Students are expected to attend and participate in all lectures and labs. Any student absent from 3 or more class sessions (lecture or lab) may be dropped from the course by the instructor. Students are encouraged to remain active participants in class. Class involvement will not only make the course more interesting, but will also facilitate student understanding, learning and retention. All students are expected to arrive to class on time, having read the related material relevant to lecture discussions. Students will also be responsible for maintaining a notebook and completing assigned readings.
 
Conduct:
Our course is a safe and respectful space for everyone. Please be respectful of the environment and of your classmates and instructor. Disruptive conduct in class will not be supported. In this spirit, please arrive on time, avoid disruptive or disrespectful talk, ringing cell phones, pagers and ipod use while in class. Disruptive students will be asked to leave and will lose participation points. Continued disruptive behavior will result in disciplinary action. Students violating conduct or academic integrity policies will lose any extra credit points offered/earned. Thank you for being respectful of our course community.
 
Code of conduct
Alcohol and drug use violate West Valley College policies and will not be allowed on field trips.
Weapons including firearms are not allowed on field trip
Safety is critical for the success of this course. Students will be responsible for following the safety guidelines provided by the instructor. 
Failure to follow safety and conduct rules will result in dismissal from the class with a loss of the points associated with the activity.
Respect. Be respectful of the environment and of your classmates. 
Cell phone use is not allowed during course lectures or activities. 
Loud stereos and music are not permitted
 
COVID-19 Safety:
Part of creating a respectful and safe environment is to contribute and respect everyone’s health and safety. We will practice all West Valley College and Santa Clara County COVID-19 safety protocols in our classroom. Please review the COVID safety guidelines in the course module “WVC Biology Department COVID Information and Guidelines.” 
 
Land Acknowledgment:
We pause to acknowledge that West Valley College sits on the land of the Muwekma Ohlone. For thousands of years, these natives occupied this land and used this beautiful location as their home. Let us give an enormous debt of gratitude to the Muwekma Ohlone tribes. By offering this Land Acknowledgment, we remember that the Muwekma Ohlone people are still connected to this region.
 
WVC Non-discrimination Statement: The district, and each individual who represents the District, shall provide access to its services, courses, and programs without regard to national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex, race, ethnicity, color, medical condition, genetic information, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, or military and veteran status, or because he/she/they is perceived to have one or more of the foregoing characteristics, or based on association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.
 
Health/ Stress Management:
All of us benefit from support during times of struggle. You are not alone. There are helpful resources available on campus and an important part of the college experience is learning how to ask for help. Asking for help is a smart and courageous, albeit sometimes difficult, thing to do- for yourself and for those who care about you. If you or anyone you know is experiencing any academic stress, difficult life events, or feelings like anxiety or depression, I strongly encourage you to seek support. You may reach out to your instructor for guidance to campus resources or contact West Valley College Health Services for free confidential personal counseling. Call 408-741-2027, drop by the Health Services office M-Th 9:00 am- 4:30 pm. http://www.westvalley.edu/services/counseling Additionally, the Office of Student Needs offers student support in the form of the Computer Loan, Emergency Loans, Free Lunch & the Food Bank Programs. https://www.westvalley.edu/services/student-needs/
 
Special Accommodations:
If you have a learning or physical need that will require special accommodations in this class you will need to notify me in writing of your accommodation needs. Please notify me following the first class if you require any special accommodations for learning or physical impairments. This will allow me to best meet your needs and allow us ample opportunity to provide suitable accommodations. West Valley College makes reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Students with DESP accommodations must adhere to guidelines set by their specified accommodation, which includes discussing and scheduling any accommodation with the instructor in advance (minimum of 48hrs) of an accommodation request. Depending on accommodation assessments may be proctored live with DESP personnel and should be scheduled at the same time as scheduled for the class. DESP Rescheduling of assessments and assignments remains in the purview of the instructor. College materials will be available in alternate formats (Braille, audio, electronic format, or large print) upon request. Please contact the Disability and Educational Support Program at (408) 741-2010 (voice) or (408) 741-2658 (TTY) for assistance. 
 
Attendance:
Attendance is mandatory for student success. State & district policy mandates that students missing more than 10% of class hours without a district approved documented absence will be dropped- this is roughly equivalent to 4 class periods. Missing this much class is very detrimental to success in the course, so it is not advised to miss this much class time if you would like to be successful. It is the student’s responsibility to attend ALL classes. Classes will start on time and will run the entire time. schedule doctor appointments, dental appointments, babysitters etc. accordingly. If you are absent for any reason, please notify me as soon as possible. If a student misses a lecture, it is his/her/their responsibility to obtain any handouts and information provided. Again, if a student is absent from more than four class sessions he/she/they will be DROPPED from the course. A portion of your grade will be determined by your in-class participation, so it is important that you attend all class sessions to earn all possible points. Students repeatedly missing class forfeit all extra credit points.
 
Students report feeling like they have less time with a combination of online and in person courses due to transitioning to a variety of course modalities. Please be forewarned- on average, students need to spend 3 hours of class time weekly in person, as well as time to participate in class discussions, assignments, reviewing Powerpoints, study guides, and the text, in addition to studying. 
 
Withdrawing from the Course:
Any person not present in the beginning of the semester will be dropped. After the first class it is the responsibility of the student who registered to withdraw, even if he/she/they has stopped attending class.  Do not assume that if you stop coming to class that you will automatically be dropped. Students who fail to attend but do not inform the instructor and officially drop the course will receive a failing grade. 
 
Websites: 
This course will have active website pages which can be used to review lecture schedule and general class policies throughout the semester. This section has an instructor webpage designed to provide students information relevant to the course. Instructor’s syllabus with polices and lecture PowerPoint presentations will be made available to students weekly. These materials are highly beneficial to focusing your study time and if used properly will aid in your success in this course. Please keep in mind these resources are a privilege and not a right and may be discontinued at the instructor’s discretion. Students are also responsible for logging into the Canvas webpage daily to complete any homework assignments and check for course announcements or email updates. You will need to login to Canvas using your username and password. Instructions for logging on are provided on the following webpage.https://wvm.instructure.com/login/canvas  Supplemental course materials will be available on the instruct webpagehttp://instruct.westvalley.edu/leticia-gallardo/
Canvas:
Students are also responsible for logging into the course learning management system- Canvas webpage to submit homework/ assignments, take assessments, check announcements and email updates relevant to the course. It is advised that students check this webpage daily. You will need to login to Canvas using your username and password. Instructions for logging on are provided on the following webpage. https://wvm.instructure.com/login/canvas
 
Study Time:
For each hour spent in class, students should expect to spend at least 2 to 3 hours outside of class studying in order to achieve an average grade (C). (Note this estimate is for the average student to earn an average grade for this class is 10 – 15 hours per week!) You should find yourself studying, reviewing and preparing for class and lab each day of the week! 
Note: Be careful not to confuse quantity studying with quality study. Simply spending time with
your books and materials will not earn you a better grade. Only hours of directed, motivated
studying will work toward earning you a better grade! As you instructor, I am here to facilitate
your learning by presenting the material and assisting in your understanding. I will do as much
as I can to help you, but ultimately it is you who will earn your final grade!
Don’t forget that as your instructor, I am here to help you navigate through the course. Come to office hours or visit the tutoring center to get help. You are not alone, we are here to help you succeed! Please ask for help as soon as you begin struggling or are feeling overwhelmed so that we are best able to help you overcome the challenges you are facing before it becomes too daunting.
 
AI Policy:
Communication, analytical, and critical thinking skills are important elements of this course, and developing competencies in these areas will help prepare you for future coursework and in the workplace. Therefore, AI-generated submissions are not permitted and will be treated as a violation of the  West Valley College Dishonesty Policy.  
In submitting assignments, the student confirms that the work submitted is entirely their own work. As the instructor, I may follow up with a student on their submission of an assignment to verify authenticity. The instructor will evaluate student work with AI detection software. Any student work indicating a greater than 80% probability of AI content will receive a Zero on the work and will be reported to the college for violating academic integrity.
Academic Integrity: Honesty is the foundation of academic integrity. The college policy on cheating is outlined in the college catalogue and our course policies are described in this syllabus. These policies will be strictly enforced. Use of any method other than your knowledge and memory (such as notes, looking on other student papers, communication between students, using internet browsing or AI software, etc.) to answer questions on an assessments (quiz or exam) constitutes cheating and will result in a zero on the assignment. Dishonest behavior also includes: all forms of cheating, tampering, fabrication, plagiarism, and assisting on any assignment/assessment/quiz. This means that ALL YOUR WORK MUST BE IN YOUR OWN WORDS AND BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE. Using artificial intelligence software or copying from Google, other students, textbooks, sites like Chegg or other internet or published sources are all considered dishonest behavior. Be proactive; keep your work to yourself and be sure that all work is your own, and in your own words. This includes any assigned group activities, while you may be working as a team, you must all participate and summaries or reports must be completed individually, in your own words. Any students caught or implicated in dishonest behavior will receive an AUTOMATIC ZERO on that assignment/assessment/quiz and all dishonest behavior will be reported to the Vice President of Student Services and will undergo review by the Disciplinary Action/ CSSO Committee. Resulting disciplinary action may include one or more of the following: academic probation, suspension, expulsion from the district colleges, and academic dishonesty transcript notation.  Testing procedures & policies are detailed below. Students violating conduct or academic integrity policies will lose any extra credit points offered/earned. Students caught cheating will also forfeit any and all extra credit points.
 
Due to several incidents of cheating very strict testing procedures will be enforced!
1.      Exams are completed in person during scheduled class time. Students will NOT be allowed to leave the testing room for any reason once the assessment has been administered. This includes: using the restroom, answering cell phones, searching web browsers, etc.
2.      Exam page must remain full screen for the duration of the exam and students may not navigate away from the exam page for any purpose including taking notes. 
3.      If you must leave the room you must turn in your assessment and forfeit your remaining time. I will only grade the portion of the assessment that you have completed.
4.      Be on time! Once the first person leaves the assessment room, no one arriving late will be allowed to start the assessment.
5.      All notes, books, and personal belongings will be either left outside the room. 
6.      Internet browser/windows other than the assessment page must be closed. Any student logged for navigating away from the canvas assessment page will receive a zero on the assessment.
7.      Cell phones/pagers must be turned off during the assessment and placed in backpacks or purses. Ringing cell phones and/or pagers during assessments may result in failure of the assessment. If, for any reason, you answer a cell phone or pager during an assessment you must turn in your assessment and forfeit your remaining time.
8.      Absolutely no papers (other than those provided by the instructor) are allowed on or around the student’s workspace. 
9.      Cheating will result in a zero on the assessment and probable expulsion from the class. All extra credit points will be forfeited.
If circumstance precludes you from adhering to these policies you must speak to your instructor PRIOR to the assessments.
 
Course Format:
Lecture Format:
Lectures will be used to present, clarify, and expand on information which is presented in your texts and articles. Although we will follow a typical lecture format, class participation and involvement is encouraged. If, during lecture, you have a question raise your hand or send a chat and I will try to answer when appropriate. You are required to know all of the information presented in the class lectures whether the material is in the text or not. Lectures will be presented synchronously on ZOOM. Your attendance and participation is mandatory and you should plan your schedule accordingly.
 
Laboratory Format:
Lab is an extremely important component of this course. Your hands-on exposure to materials is an invaluable experience that many of you would not get anywhere else! Working with a group or as an individual you will explore the natural history of California plant and animal communities through the use of presentations, activities and field trips. Your experience & success will depend on your involvement and participation. In person attendance and completion of laboratory exercises in class are required in order to earn lab points. Lab will be presented in a in-person modality. Lab assignments will be completed in during class, scanned and submitted on Canvas.  
 
UC California Naturalist Certificate:
The mission of the California Naturalist Program is to foster a diverse community of naturalists and promote stewardship of California’s natural resources through education and service. Students have the opportunity to use their class hours and assignments towards fulfilling the certification requirements. Class hours, reading assignments, homework, field notebook and presentation (Capstone project) qualify toward certification. Students interested in certification must also pay the California Naturalist fee of $110 ($55 for full time students). See supplemental handout for requirements. California Naturalist website: includes volunteer portal and is a great resource for your journey as a California Naturalist. http://calnat.ucanr.edu
 
Evaluation
Participation (4%):
Participation will be evaluated through attendance records and participation & performance during class meetings. Participation will be evaluated through attendance records and participation & performance during lab activities. Some ways in which to earn participation points are: 1) completing class activities; 2) attending class; 3) participation in discussions; 4) being preparation for in-class activities; 5) constructive behavior in class.
 
 
Lecture Assignments (18%):
Assignments will be given throughout the course to reinforce concepts covered in lecture. The goal of these assignments is to enhance the student learning experience of course content and promote outreach, advocacy, responsible citizenship and gain interpretive skills Points will be allocated based on format, content, and completion of assignments. Students are responsible for checking the Canvas webpage for assignment updates. Students should expect a minimum of 10 homework assignments for the semester. Students will be responsible for completing assignments according to the instructions provided during Zoom and in person meetings. You may be completing assignments on Canvas or write your responses on a handouts and submit on Canvas. For written work please write legibly, coherently, and in your own words- my standard policy is if I can’t read it, I can’t assign points!  It is your role as a student to convey what you have learned and show that you understand the concepts, this should be clear in your responses. Once completed you will be responsible for scanning any written assignments as a single document and submitting it through Canvas. You will be responsible for obtaining a scanning app such as “notes” or “genius scan.” 
 
Late work will be accepted for partial credit up to 5 days late (Late work will lose 10% of the point value per day including weekends). Late work must be completed within the timeframe of the unit the work was assigned. . No late work will be accepted after Nov 25th for the last unit of the semester. . There are no make-up quizzes so please be mindful of due dates and times that are communicated in class.
 
You should use a reliable computer and Wifi when completing your assignments. Contact the office of student needs for assistance with obtaining reliable computer or internet access. https://www.westvalley.edu/library/textbooks-and-technology.html
 
Lab Assignments (18%):
The in person lab activities will be completed to reinforce and enhance concepts covered in lecture. The goal of the lab activities is to enhance the student learning experience of course content and promote outreach, advocacy, responsible citizenship and gain interpretive skills. A nature journal will be completed as part of the lab portion of the course. Students are responsible for attending, participating, and completing in person lab activities according to the instructions provided during in person lab meetings (there are no online alternatives). Students will be responsible for completing activities Once completed you will be responsible for scanning any written assignments as a single document and submitting it through Canvas. You will be responsible for obtaining a scanning app such as “notes” or “genius scan.” Late work will be accepted for partial credit up to 5 days late (including weekends). No late work will be accepted after the last day of active class, Nov. 26.
 
Assessments (60%):
Assessments will comprise 60% of the student’s points. Assessments may include weekly quizzes, projects, and presentations. Assessments will be held IN PERSON during scheduled class time and administered through Canvas on department computers or by old fashion paper. You will need your Canvas login and password to login to digital assessments. Students are responsible for all material presented in lecture and lab. Attendance of scheduled assessments is mandatory. Please review procedures above for assessment procedures. There are NO make-up assessments so please be mindful of due dates and times that are communicated in class. Missing an in-person assessment will result in a zero grade for the assessment. The quizzes may consist of a combination of multiple choice, matching, short answer, and labeling questions. Assessments scores will not be dropped or substituted.Assessments will begin promptly at the beginning of scheduled class meeting time. Please arrive on time and note that you will not receive extra time to compensate a late arrival. All students must complete the final assessment during the assigned time period. Periodically I will post your grades. This gives you the opportunity to confirm where you stand in the course, if you are missing any work or if I have made any errors recording your grades. Be sure to look it over. If you have any questions regarding any grade you receive and/or the grading method please feel free to talk to me.
 
Grade Calculations:
A single 3- unit grade will be given for the lecture & lab course. All points earned will be converted into a percentage score (pts earned ÷ pts possible). 
Lecture 
Assessments ………………………………………..…………………….…………………...60%
                        Lecture Assignments..………………………………………………………..…………….18%
                        Lab Assignments………………………………………………………………..…………….18%
                        Participation………………………………………………………………………………….....5%
Total Lecture %                                                                            100%
*If complications in projects cause assignments to be discontinued or if additional assignments are given, the percent scale of the adjusted points will be used to calculate grades.
      Your final course grade will be based on the following scale:

      A (90-100%),  B (80-89%),  C (65-79%),  D (55-65%),  F (below 55%)
 
Places to seek Additional Help:
Office Hours: MW 3:40-4:40pm (Zoom); T 1:00-2:00pm (Zoom); by appointment    
Form study groups: your fellow classmates are a valuable resource for studying together.
Support Services: Please take advantage of the support services on campus- They are here to help you! Services contact information is listed below
Tutoring: Tutorial Services: All students are eligible for free on campus tutoring. If you wish to get help you MUST make the commitment to attend any scheduled tutorial sessions. If any student misses 2 non-cancelled tutorial sessions they will be dropped from the program. https://www.westvalley.edu/services/success-center/
 
Useful Phone Numbers:
Life threatening emergency- Campus phone…………………..9-911           Counseling Center…………………741-2009
Student Health Services on campus……… ……………………….741-2027     Bookstore………………………………741-2015
Safety Escort Service (Campus Police) ……………………….…741-2092        Technology Center……………….741-2666
Science and Math Division office ……………………………………741-2018     Success Center………..……….….741-2038
Extended Opportunity Programs & Service (EOPS)…….741-2023
Disability & Educational Support Program (DESP)……….741-2010                      
 
Useful Dates                                       Holidays:
Last day to Add……………………………….Sept 8                              Labor Day………………….. Sept 2
Last day to drop without a “W” ……. Sept 8                              Veteran’s Day……………..Nov 11 
Last day to drop with a “W”………….. Nov 15                             Thanksgiving……………….Nov 28-29
 

 

 

 

 

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